Teesa Bahana

Teesa Bahana (b. 1989) is the director of 32° East, an independent non-profit art center dedicated to the transformative power of contemporary art in Kampala, Uganda. As director she has led the development and execution of projects such as the 3rd and 4th edition of KLA ART, COVID-19 relief efforts for artists in the global South, dynamic residency programs, and international exchanges with partners such as Arts Collaboratory, and Triangle Network, all while nurturing a thriving artistic community. As network coordinator for Arts Collaboratory she plans and facilitates regular meetings with a diverse group from across the global South.

She is currently working on the 5th Edition of KLA ART, Kampala's longest running contemporary art festival. The 5th edition's theme is Care Instructions, viewing cultural heritage as a set of teachings that includes 'everything that we do to maintain, continue, and repair our ‘world’ so that we can live in it as well as possible'.

She is also currently overseeing 32° East's capital project and has raised over $700,000 to date for the first purpose-built art center in Kampala. Phase 1 of the center opened in March 2023 and has since been widely recognized in leading architecture publications. She has been a mentor/faculty on multiple art initiatives on the African continent such as RAW Academy and the MACAAL Bootcamp, while also serving on various panels and advisory committees such as selection committees for the Henrike Grohs Art Award and the Prince Claus Fund seed awardees. She is also a trustee of the Localworks Foundation.

Her work has been recognized by Apollo Magazine, as an Advocate in their 40 under 40 list, and one of Art Africa's 100+ Voices on Influence in the Global South. She is a graduate of Colgate University with a B.A in Sociology and Anthropology and Peace and Conflict Studies.

Teesa Bahana, Director, 32° East, Kampala, Uganda, has been awarded by Mercedes Vilardell, London/Mallorca.